Block scraper with removable bits



Sept. 27, 1955 G. w. DRAUGHN BLOCK SCRAPER WITH REMOVABLE BITS Filed Nov. 27, 1951 I O V I alF INVENTOR GEORGE W. DRAUG/l/V ATTORNEY United States Patent O BLOCK SCRAPER WITH REMOVABLE BITS George W. Draughn, Richmond, Va., assignor of fortyfive per cent to Emil V. Kardian, Richmond, Va.

Application November 27, 1951, Serial No. 258,420

1 Claim. (Cl. 15--236) This invention relates to block scraper and, more particularly, to a hand scraper for scraping of the tops of butcher blocks, cutting boards, and the like wooden surfaces.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a block scraper having a plurality of parallel, diagonally disposed serrated blades, hereinafter termed bits, rigidly affixed and supported across the bottom face of the scraper. More particularly, it is intended to provide for the easy mounting and removal of the bits in and from the bottom of the scraper, and yet to have the bits closely, tightly and firmly supported in working position.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a multiple wedge-block mounting for the diagonal bits in the working face of a hand scraper wherein the bits are clamped between diagonally running spacer blocks, and wherein the blocks and bits are tightly clamped in position by the wedge action of a screw-drive wedge assembly. In the furtherance of this objective, it is intended that the spacer blocks and wedge assembly be slidably retained within the shell of the scraper so that they will not fall out during removal or replacement of any or all of the bits. It is thus proposed that the bits can be installed or replaced without disassembly of the other parts, and with only a minor turning adjustment of the screws which drive the wedge assembly.

A further object is the provision of a block scraper having its parts easily disassembled and re-assembled for cleaning or replacement and yet, when assembled, to present a compact, close-fitting unit presenting but little refuge for sawdust, meat debris, or germs.

These and other objectives, including that of an economically manufacturable unit having many of its parts identically formed, will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the working face of the scraper, with a portion of the frame flange broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section along the line 2-2 of Fig. l and Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken transversely through the scraper along the line 3-3.

Referring now to the drawing in which like reference numerals denote similar elements, there is shown best in Figs. 2 and 3 a wooden handle 10, generally of the size and configuration of a standard scrub brush. Surrounding and encasing the lower portion of handle is a metallic rectangular metal frame 12, the upper portion of which slidably fits over a lower rectangular boss 14 on handle 10, the frame being secured on the boss by screws 16 passing inwardly through screw holes in the longitudinal sides 17 of frame 12 and, as shown in Fig. 1, through ends 32 of the frame.

Along the bottoms of longitudinal frame sides 17 run inwardly directed flanges 18 which overlie outwardly extending end shoulders 20 of wooden spacer blocks 22, the latter being shaped as parallelograms in plan view and having their lowermost surfaces lying substantially flush with the bottom of frame 12. The bits 24, which are 2,718,654 Patented Sept. 27, 1955 preferably pieces of hacksaw blades, fits between the diagonally running sides of spacer blocks 22. It should be noted that bits 24, unlike spacer blocks 22, do not have shoulders beneath flanges 18, and that the bits are held in position by clamping forces exerted between the spacer blocks 22 by triangular metal wedge blocks 26. As are spacer blocks 22, wedge blocks 26 are slidably retained within each end of frame 12 by end shoulders 28 which fit beneath flanges 18.

As shown best in Figs. 1 and 2, the right-hand end 32 of frame 12 has a pair of screw holes 30 tapped for threaded engagement by Allen set screws 34, the inner ends of which engage the adjacent triangular metal wedge block 26, it being apparent that when set screws 34 are tightened inwardly by a key or like suitable operator, tight clamping forces will be exerted all along the line between bits 24, spacer blocks 22, and finally against the triangular metal wedge block 26 at the opposite end.

In operation, the scraper is scrubbed with a reciprocatory or oscillatory motion across the face of the butcher block or other work to be cleaned. Since only a small portion, except for the serrated edges of bits 24 project below frame sides 17 and frame ends 32, and since the lower surfaces of spacer blocks 22 also lie closely adjacent the free serrated edges of bits 24, the latter are very rigidly held in position, thereby greatly curtailing the likelihood of breaking or chipping, and also presenting substantially solid surfaces so that particles cannot lodge in small cracks. When it is desired to change bits, the operator needs only to back off the Allen set screws 34 enough to relieve the Wedging and clamping forces, whereupon bits 24 may be lifted directly upwardly from the assembly. Meanwhile, spacer blocks 22 and triangular wedge blocks 26 remain keyed within frame 12 through the engagement of their shoulders 26 and 28, respectively, beneath flanges 18. The bits, of course, can be replaced by simple reversal of the sequence detailed above.

The invention described in the foregoing specification is not limited to the precise details illustrated in the drawing, but is intended to cover all substitutions, modifications, and equivalents within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A block scraper comprising a handle, a generally rectangular, elongate hollow frame aflixed to the lower portion of the handle, said frame having inwardly extending flanges along the lower longitudinal edges thereof, a plurality of substantially similar spacer blocks separate from one another and said frame and moveably engaged within said frame with their upper surfaces engaging the lower portion of said handle and with their lower surfaces substantially flush with the lower edges of said frame, said spacer blocks being substantially parallelogram shaped in plan with parallel sides thereof extending diagonally between the longitudinal sides of said frame, said blocks having step-shaped ends providing shoulders at each end thereof slidably engaging beneath said flanges, serrate edged bits engaged between the diagonally extending sides of said spacer blocks, the extreme ends of said bits lying between said flanges, a substantially triangular wedge member slidably engaged within each end of said frame, each of said wedge members also having upper surfaces engaging the lower portion of said handle, lower surfaces substantially flush with the lower edges of said frame, end shoulders slidably engaging beneath said flanges, and a hypotenuse running diagonally between the longitudinal sides of the frame and engaging an outermost one of said bits, and set screw means engaged between one end of said frame and one of said wedge members for driving the latter against the adjacent bit whereby to clamp said bits tightly between *said spacer blocks and said wedge members. v

References-Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS V I 5 104,706 Co'dding June 28, 1870 4 OLaughlin July 9, 1918 Leonard Jan. 10, 1922 Johnson Apr. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 1, 1909 

